SPECIES: POTATO COD

MEET THE CHUNKY 100 KILOGRAM FISH SWIMMING IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF AROUND THE CLEAN WAVES-PROTECTED LIZARD ISLAND

A favorite of divers that has been fished out of existence in their usual habitats of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, just outside the reef of Lizard Island lies Cod Hole, home to the Potato Cod (Epinephelus takula), one of the most famous dive spots in the Great Barrier Reef, and ergo, the world. Living in the tropical waters of the Northern Great Barrier Reef, the Potato Cod is not a fish that tastes like chips, but is actually a member of the grouper family, and takes its name after the round, potato-shaped markings on its body.

And what a body. Potato Cods can reach two meters long and weigh 100 kilograms, with the average coming in at 1.5 meters and 90 kilograms. Usually a pale bluish-grey color and covered with dark brown or black blotches, they live among coral reefs where they feed on small rays, crabs, fish, squid, octopi, and rock lobsters, often by hiding behind the coral and then lunging to ambush their prey in one huge gulp. Humans are a different story though, and many divers, such as Parley’s Australia ambassador Christian Miller, report that they have had close-up encounters with the Potato Cod due to their friendly nature and inquisitive personality, as seen in his images and videos here.

In fact, Potato Cod are so intertwined with the reefs that they live in the same area throughout their lives, often by themselves, and only spread their fins to swim out spawn when they become sexually mature. As a member of the grouper family, Potato Cod are protogynous hermaphrodites, which means they are born female, but undergo a sex change when they reach maturity — and it is during this metamorphosis that they will begin to swim several kilometers to get to their spawning sites.

This is a long distance for Potato Cods, as they usually prefer the creature comforts of home, and live in the same area throughout much of their entire lives. Because of their somewhat geographically unadventurous inclinations and lack of fear towards people, Potato Cods are easy targets for spear-fishers, hence their disappearance from other parts of Indian and Pacific Oceans.

While those residing in the 40-meter-deep Cod Hole are protected by Australian fishing councils, the dive spot’s location on the outer ribbons of the Northern Great Barrier Reef see the Potato Cod live directly in the path of the Southern Ecuadorian Current, which delivers marine debris, such as ‘ghost’ fishing nets which entangle ocean wildlife, to the reefs from across the entire Pacific Ocean.

With the Clean Waves Archetype sunglasses of the Summer 2022 drop created from intercepted plastic and upcycled fishing gear such as these ghost nets, and 100 percent of the proceeds going towards protecting these tropical island paradises and their wildlife, each purchase makes it possible to intercept plastic waste in and around Lizard Island, and upcycle it. You’re also supporting education and infrastructure projects to reduce plastic at source — an essential part of our mission in the Pacific Ocean and beyond.

As our work progresses, we’ll bring you the latest updates from the islands. If you have a pair of Clean Waves sunglasses, be sure to activate your coordinates for personalized updates from the place you support.

Photography & video by Christian Miller of Parley Australia